Commentary on the Gospel of
Repent!
Today, on July 16th, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the early thirteenth century, the hermit brothers on Mount Carmel devoted a small chapel to St. Mary, affirming her as their Protector who will care for them, and whom they, in return, will serve.
175 years ago today, in 1849, five diocesan priests in Spain came together under the guidance of Father Antony Mary Claret to establish a small community of preachers devoted to spreading the Gospel through their itinerant ministry. They named themselves the "Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary." Over the years, the community expanded both in membership and in the scope of its ministries. After the death of their founder, Father Claret, this religious congregation is also referred to as the Claretian Missionaries. Today, with over 3000 members, the Claretian Missionaries are active in over 70 countries across the globe. Let's take a moment to pray for the Claretian Missionaries, celebrating their 175th anniversary today.
Today, in the Gospel, we hear Jesus call on people to pay attention to God's message, change their behaviour and return to God. Jesus sounds frustrated over the time and energy he invested in them going to waste, much like the gardener gets frustrated when his fig tree fails to bear fruit - we read in Luke 13:6-9.
Jesus' words were intended to shock his listeners and encourage their conversion. As Matthew wrote his Gospel, he used the words of Jesus to encourage his community members to persevere in faith and discourage laxity or negligence.
The Gospel is a reminder of our responsibility to recognise and embrace opportunities for conversion, change and growth rather than holding on to a closed-minded and unrepentant attitude. The examples of cities like Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum are used to illustrate the consequences of refusing to repent.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us!
